Baby mantises harness mid-air ‘spin’ during jumps for precision landings

[mobilehaathi]

Well I find this fascinating, so perhaps some of you might too!

High-speed videos reveal that, unlike other jumping insects, the juvenile praying mantis does not spin out of control when airborne. In fact, it both creates and controls angular momentum at extraordinary speeds to orient its body for precise landings.

primary source [paywalled]

secondary source

 

[aaronvan]

That amazing. I love mantids. I know they're only bugs but they seem to possess an uncanny awareness when they peer into your eyes.

I caught a monster in Thailand once. Thing was bigger than my hand.

 

[aaronvan]

Eight-Legged Freak

This is amazing but not really surprising considering octopi are highly intelligent creatures.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...surprise-attack-leading-to-deadly-battle.html

On a related note, Orcas will throw themselves on the beach to grab prey.

http://youtu.be/NJ7Af8FDIqI

Then there is the woodpecker-riding weasel.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31711446

Nature is amazing.

 

[mobilehaathi]

This is amazing but not really surprising considering octopi are highly intelligent creatures.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...surprise-attack-leading-to-deadly-battle.html

On a related note, Orcas will throw themselves on the beach to grab prey.

http://youtu.be/NJ7Af8FDIqI

Then there is the woodpecker-riding weasel.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31711446

Nature is amazing.

Wow, that octopus attack is incredible!

 

[appleguy123]

I keep mantids as pets. They always seem so aware and smart.

 

[juanm]

They always seem so aware and smart.

They probably think the same thing about you.

 

[appleguy123]

They probably think the same thing about you.

I feed them so probably.

 

[appleguy123]

Found the first wild bug of the year for the mantids today.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Found the first wild bug of the year for the mantids today.

Wow, is that your pet?

 

[appleguy123]

Wow, is that your pet?

Yes. She's a violin mantis.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Yes. She's a violin mantis.

Very interesting creature, how tall is it?

 

[appleguy123]

Very interesting creature, how tall is it?

I don't have a ruler with me, but she's about 2.5 inches tall. She'll get twice as long as she is now, but they start to widen their stances when they get bigger, so that's about as tall as they'll ever get.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I don't have a ruler with me, but she's about 2.5 inches tall. She'll get twice as long as she is now, but they start to widen their stances when they get bigger, so that's about as tall as they'll ever get.

How many mantises do you have? Your earlier comment suggested you have a few? What kinds?

 

[appleguy123]

How many mantises do you have? Your earlier comment suggested you have a few? What kinds?

Right now I just have a violin mantis and 2 cone head mantids.

I don't like to keep many during winter because they're hard to feed. I usually keep 10-20 during the summer when I can catch food for them.

Here's my cone head mantis. She has pretty wings.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Right now I just have a violin mantis and 2 cone head mantids.

I don't like to keep many during winter because they're hard to feed. I usually keep 10-20 during the summer when I can catch food for them.

Here's my cone head mantis. She has pretty wings.

Pretty cool!

Do you tend to capture them or procure them from a vendor?

 

[appleguy123]

Pretty cool!

Do you tend to capture them or procure them from a vendor?

I usually buy them from other mantis keepers online, because I live in Missouri and all neat mantids are from Asia and Africa.